16th August 2015 - Important Current Affairs updates

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International Affairs

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi today left on a Two-Day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• Modi is the first Indian prime minister to visit the UAE in 34 years.
• Note : Indira Gandhi visited UAE in the year 1981.
• Modi`s official visit is at the invitation of General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Terrorism will be high on the talks agenda.
• Day 1 Visit : 
• Modi will hold official talks with the leadership of Abu Dhabi and later visit Masdar City, a city project in Abu Dhabi where he is expected to spend time watching presentatios, the external affairs ministry said.
• Day 2 Visit : 
• He will first visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and then travel to Dubai where, after meeting Dubai`s ruler, he will attend a grand public reception hosted for him at the Dubai Cricket Grounds.
• Note : "India is UAE`s second largest trading partner and the UAE is India`s third largest trade partner."

National Affairs

• Government today extended the deadline for submission of public comments on the proposed policy framework for 'Net Neutrality' till August 20th.
• Telecom Minister : Ravi Shankar Prasad
• The Odisha government today approved a policy for 'Housing for All' in urban areas.
• This policy envisages provisions enabling framework for implementation of affordable housing projects, slum rehabilitation and redevelopment projects and to facilitate development of housing schemes in urban areas.
• Chief Minister : Naveen Patnaik
  
• The Assam Assembly has unanimously passed the Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2015 making any offence under the Act as non-bailable, cognizable and non-compoundable to eliminate the superstition from society.
• Chief Minister : Tarun Gogoi
• Gujarat has announced a ban on the use of plastic in the state.
• Chief Minister : Anandiben Patel
• Kerala government declared the state as Complete Digital State.
• The state has achieved 100 per cent mobile density, 75 per cent e-literacy, highest digital banking rate and broadband connection upto panchayat level.
• Chief Minister : Oommen Chandy

Business and Economy

• India’s third largest private sector lender, Axis Bank has launched the first Contactless Debit, Credit and Multi-Currency Forex Card in association with VISA the payments gateway company in the country.
• With the launch of these cards, banks are aiming to leverage Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s guidelines, which allow them to process contactless transactions below Rs 2,000 without a personal identification number. 
• 60 per cent of transactions on cards currently are below the threshold limit of Rs 2,000.
• The Finance Ministry has imposed definitive anti-dumping duty on Potassium Carbonate imports from Taiwan and South Korea.
• This follows recommendation of the Designated Authority in the Commerce Ministry in its final findings in the sunset review investigations.

Sports

• Saina Nehwal loses to the defending champion Carolina Marin of Spain in the World Badminton Championships final at Jakarta, gets Silver Medal.
• Saina is now the First Indian Badminton Player to win a silver medal at the World Championships.

Awards & Honors

• Five coaches have been recommended for the prestigious Dronacharya Award 2015.
• Swatantra Raj Singh (boxing)
• Nihar Ameen (swimming)
• Harbans Singh (athletics)
• Anoop Singh Dahiya (Wrestling)
• Naval Singh (Para-athletics)

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